Child emphasized equality and urged people to look at others as individuals, not as part of races and classes.

"I think she has a vital lesson for today," Sciacca said. "Here, we seem to have lost our vital sense of what’s important."

Child, who lived part of her life in Wayland and would have been 216 years old on Sunday, would likely be disappointed to see the acts of racism and the divisiveness of the country today, Sciacca said.

The society is celebrating her birthday on Sunday with a 2:30 p.m. program about Child. Medford playwright and actress Laura Duggan will present a videotape of her work “The Ghost of Lydia Maria Child" about the 19th century author and abolitionist. The free event will be held at the Islamic Center of Boston, 126 Boston Post Road. Stop & Shop donated a birthday cake.

The historical society also has a variety of artifacts in its museum, including Child books and her calash, an accordion-style bonnet.

Born in Medford in 1802, Child was a famous writer in her 20s and early 30s. Her book "The Frugal Housewife" offered advice to women who did not have servants and had to care for their homes on their own. She wrote advice books for children and edited a children's magazine.

Child could have had a profitable career, but gave it up to fight against slavery and promote women's rights, Native American rights and equality, said Duggan and Sciacca.

She understood "we're all of the human family and that we should respect everybody and everybody should have an equal shot at things," Duggan said.

Sciacca added: "She was opposed to all forms of discrimination against anyone."

But, Child's abolitionist views and works such as 1833's "An Appeal in Favor of that Class of Americans Called Africans," ostracized her and she lost her popularity. The theme of racial inferiority was present even in Massachusetts at the time.

Child moved to Wayland in 1852 and lived in town until her death in 1880. She is buried in North Cemetery.

She is perhaps best known for writing the poem "Over the River and through the Wood," but Sciacca and Duggan see much more in her than the source of that holiday staple.

Duggan hopes people who watch her play, which she developed in 2016 with assistance from the historical society, see the sacrifices Child made to denounce slavery.

"I just adore her values and her courage," Sciacca said. "She’s a very, very admirable lady."

Brian Benson can be reached at 508-626-3964 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @bbensonmwdn.